The Conveyancing Association (CA) has called for tighter regulation of estate agents, including mandatory qualifications and a formal Code of Practice, as part of wider proposals to improve standards and transparency in the home buying and selling process.

The body said stronger oversight of estate agency would help ensure material information is provided accurately and at the appropriate stage of a transaction, and would create more consistent standards across the sector. It also argued that regulation would help distinguish compliant agents from those operating outside expected legal and professional standards.

Alongside its position on regulation, the CA has welcomed a series of recommendations from the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee aimed at improving the efficiency of the property transaction process.

The committee’s findings, set out in correspondence to Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, highlight ongoing concerns around delays, transaction fall-throughs and overall costs within the system, describing the current process as a constraint on housing market activity and supply.

A key area of support from the CA is the Committee’s backing for greater use of upfront property information. It said earlier availability of key data at the point of marketing would allow buyers, lenders, valuers, brokers and conveyancers to assess transactions more effectively from the outset, reducing duplication and late-stage issues.

The association said inconsistent access to reliable upfront information remains a common source of delays and transaction failures, often after significant time and cost has already been incurred.

It also warned that inefficiencies in the current system are influencing consumer behaviour, with complexity and uncertainty discouraging some households from moving, particularly first-time buyers and those considering downsizing. It said this is contributing to reduced mobility and limiting stock flow across the market.

The CA added that improving transparency and efficiency would support greater movement in the housing market and help ease supply constraints.

It also referenced the government’s consultation on reforms to the home buying and selling process, which closed in December 2025, and said there is now a need for clearer direction on implementation. The association noted that many of the proposals under consideration overlap with the Select Committee’s recommendations and called for a defined policy timetable.

Beth Rudolf, director of delivery at the Conveyancing Association, said: “A number of these recommendations from the Select Committee recognise the reality of the current system and the impact it is having on consumers, conveyancing firms and the wider housing market. There is a clear need to reduce delays, cut fall-throughs and improve certainty, and many of the measures outlined here would help achieve exactly that.

“Upfront information, including searches, is essential. If buyers and lenders have the data they need from the outset, we can remove a significant amount of delay and uncertainty from the process. This is the foundation for any further reform and must be implemented effectively and consistently across the market.

“Improving standards across the market is key. Consumers should be able to trust the information they are given is accurate, complete and provided at the right time. A clear framework for estate agents, supported by proper oversight, would help create a more consistent experience for everyone involved in the transaction.

“These issues go beyond individual transactions. The way the system currently operates is holding back movement across the housing market. If we can reduce friction and improve certainty, we can support more people to move when they need to, which benefits the entire market.

“The industry has engaged fully with the consultation process and we await the roadmap for implementation. While it is vital government now sets out how and when these reforms will be delivered, all of the solutions are already available to sellers and buyers as well the property industry today, we just need to grasp the nettle and get on with it.

“There is clear alignment across the industry on what needs to change. The focus now has to be on delivery. We stand ready to support Government in implementing reforms that will create a faster, more certain and more cost-effective home buying and selling process.”

The Select Committee letter can be viewed here.